Your Brand is your story

How do you make people feel? What is the first impression people get when they meet you? What’s people’s perception of you? Do people trust you? Did people see you as someone who can deliver? Do you make people uncomfortable? Do you actually care about what people think of you? All these questions are what one should think about while interacting with others. As Maya Angelou once said, ‘people will forget what you said or what you did, but they will never forget how you make them feel.’ This speaks to the fact that we all make impressions of ourselves, and it is important that we leave an impression that is good for our personal brand.

Now, I would like to ask, what is a brand? A brand is the sum of all the perceptions and emotions about a product and service that live in a customer’s mind. This explains that a customer owns the thought of the brand while a company owns the product or services. In your case, you own yourself, while others own the brand of you, which is the perception of what you are to them. People will relate to you if they feel like they know, like, and trust you. We all have a personal brand that is connected to the emotions and perceptions maintained by others while describing the total experience of having a relationship or interaction with you.

A personal brand will create differentiation from others, showing how different you are to other people. Another thing a personal brand creates is visibility; this will make others see you clearly. Having a personal brand will also create confidence for an individual and support your goals and objectives. While creating a personal brand, one has to have clear goals, values, and personal drives which will lead to people’s perception of you. Do you want to be known for being efficient, honest, hilarious, consistent, detail-oriented, organized, trustworthy, or hardworking? Everything ties to the goals and values you create for yourself.

Getting feedback is an important part of creating a person’s brand. One has to constantly build on how people experience you. Also, one has to pay attention to the compliments one receives from others; this will help you build on your brand. One should always look for what will wow others about yourself. We all have attributes that differentiate us from others, so one should find what makes them different and what will excite people. While doing this, it is very important to know your audience.

It is important to nurture one’s brand and maintain it. It is important to have clarity about what sets you apart. Be consistent with your delivery and be constantly visible to your audience. Always keep in mind what people have in mind when they see you and how you always have to stand out from others by building on your idiosyncrasies.

In conclusion, as we navigate the realm of personal branding, it is a continual journey of self-discovery and conscious interaction with others. Maya Angelou’s wisdom serves as a guiding principle, emphasizing the enduring impact of our actions on people’s feelings. Just as individuals own their personal brand, the effort to be known for qualities aligned with clear goals and values remains paramount. Building on feedback and compliments becomes the cornerstone of this journey, perpetually refining the unique attributes that set us apart. Therefore, in the ongoing tapestry of personal branding, maintaining visibility, consistency, and a keen awareness of our audience ensures a lasting and positive imprint, echoing Maya Angelou’s timeless words.

#MMBA5